Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Brondell vs Cloud Water Filters
Brondell vs Cloud Water Filters: the differences
| Compare |  Brondell |  Cloud Water Filters |
|---|---|---|
| Filter system | Under sink | Reverse osmosis |
| Reference models | Pearl H625 Countertop Water Filtration System, Coral UC300 Three-Stage Under Sink Water Filtration System, Capella RC250 Reverse Osmosis Under Sink Water Filtration System, Circle RC100 Reverse Osmosis Under Counter Water Filtration System | Cloud RO |
| Price from | $69.99Lower | $649 |
| Cartridge price | $79.99Lower | $200 |
| Filter cost per year | $79.99Lower | $200 to $250 |
| Certification scope | WQA Gold Seal certification for reduction of over 75 contaminants, meeting NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401 plus NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 and CSA B483.1 | NSF 58 full system certification for Cloud RO, covering TDS reduction (98%), efficiency rating and extraction test, plus an added lead content test showing weighted average lead content of <=0.25% |
| Installation required | No | YesHas it |
| Warranty | 1 year | 5 yearsHigher |
| Markets | US, CACovers more | US |
| Cartridge life (l) | 2,271 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: PFAS and lead reduction (Yes).
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Key differences
- Brondell scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.7.
- Price from is lower at Brondell: $69.99 vs $649.
- Cartridge price is lower at Brondell: $79.99 vs $200.
- Filter cost per year is lower at Brondell: $79.99 vs $200 to $250.
- Installation required: only Cloud Water Filters.
- Warranty is higher at Cloud Water Filters: 5 years vs 1 year.
- Support channels: only Cloud Water Filters offers Email, Chat.
- NSF/ANSI standards: only Brondell offers 42, 53, 401.
- Brondell is available in 1 more country.
- Markets: only Brondell offers CA.
Our verdict on each
Brondell
Brondell suits households in the US and Canada that want certified filtration with a low entry price and no installation visit. Its Coral under-counter system runs 2,271 litres between cartridge changes, and PFAS and lead reduction sits inside the WQA Gold Seal scope.
Cloud Water Filters
Cloud Water Filters suits US homes that want reverse osmosis installed under the sink and can live with a running cartridge bill of $200 to $250 a year. Cloud RO starts at $649 and carries a 5 year warranty, so the strength is certification and cover, not entry price.
Score breakdown
| Area | Brondell | Cloud Water Filters |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2HigherEntry at $69.99 and yearly filter spending of $79.99 keep the bill modest at both ends. | 8.2Cost reads 8.2 against a Cloud RO entry price of $649 and a running bill of $200 to $250 a year. |
| Offer | 8.6Cartridge life of 2,271 litres plus a $79.99 cartridge give long runs at a steady price. | 9.4HigherOffer reads 9.4 on the strength of PFAS and lead reduction, a 5 year warranty and full system certification under 58. |
| Trust | 9.7HigherWQA Gold Seal certification covering a wide contaminant list, with the range listed under 42, 53 and 58. | 8.3Trust reads 8.3: Cloud Water Filter, LLC in US, support on email, chat and help centre, so contact is digital. |
Licences and countries
| Country | Brondell | Cloud Water Filters |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Available in 1 country for both. Additional countries for Brondell: 1.
By the numbers
| Fact | Brondell | Cloud Water Filters |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $69.99 | $649 |
| Cartridge price | $79.99 | $200 |
| Filter cost per year | $79.99 | $200 to $250 |
| Warranty | 1 year | 5 years |
Sources behind this comparison
Brondell
- brondell.com: 15 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Cloud Water Filters
- cloudwaterfilters.com: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Brondell | Cloud Water Filters |
|---|---|---|
| Water filters | 7 of 80 | 12 of 80 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Brondell | Cloud Water Filters |
|---|---|---|
| NSF/ANSI standards | 42, 53, 58, 401Covers more | 58 |
| Legal entity | Brondell Inc. | Cloud Water Filter, LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Support channels | Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more |
Air treatment
| Fact | Brondell | Cloud Water Filters |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Purifier | Not confirmed |
| Clean air delivery rate (m³/h) | 878.38 | Not confirmed |
| Room size (m²) | 360 | Not confirmed |
| Filter types | Hepa h13, Carbon, Uv, Ioniser | Not confirmed |
| Filter change interval | 4 to 6 months | Not confirmed |
| Quietest noise level (dB) | 30 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Brondell | Cloud Water Filters | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $69.99lowest quarter | $649highest quarter | $147.49 |
| Cartridge price | $79.99above the median | $200highest quarter | $65 |
| Cartridge life (l) | 2,271below the median | Not confirmed | 2,862.5 |
| Filter cost per year | $79.99below the median | $200 to $250highest quarter | $99.85 |
| Warranty | 1 yearbelow the median | 5 yearshighest quarter | 2 years |
Median across 47 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Brondell
Pros
- Installation is not required, so a Brondell system goes in without booking a plumber.
- Filter cost per year ranks 13 of 46 among the water filters compared, so the recurring side sits well down the field.
- Entry price ranks 18 of 52 among the brands compared, which keeps the starting outlay modest.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre only, so help is self service rather than a call.
- Warranty cover is 1 year, which is thin for a unit meant to stay plumbed in.
- A replacement cartridge costs $79.99 and ranks 35 of 50 on price, so restocking is the costliest part of ownership.
Cloud Water Filters
Pros
- Cloud RO carries full system certification under 58, with an added lead content test on top of the standard scope.
- PFAS and lead reduction is stated for the system, so buyers focused on those contaminants have a direct answer.
- A 5 year warranty covers the unit itself, not just the cartridges that come with it.
Cons
- The Cloud RO entry price of $649 sits well above a typical site entry price of €127.49, so it asks for money up front.
- Installation is required for the Cloud RO, so it asks for a fitting job, while the IBBL range is countertop for buyers who would rather set a unit on the worktop.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, so there is no phone line listed for problems with the plumbing.
Who each suits
Brondell
Who it suits
- Households in US and CA looking for a fixed under-sink system with a long cartridge run.
- Anyone treating tap water for PFAS and lead, since Brondell confirms reduction of both.
- First-time filter buyers who want an established US manufacturer standing behind the warranty.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers set on reverse osmosis: reverse osmosis and reverse osmosis both centre on that, while Brondell's listed system is under sink.
- Buyers wanting a countertop format: countertop covers that style, and Brondell's listed format is under sink.
Cloud Water Filters
Who it suits
- US homeowners with plumbing space under a sink who want an installed system rather than a countertop filter.
- Households that put certified contaminant reduction, including PFAS and lead, ahead of the lowest entry price.
- Buyers who would rather cover a system with a 5 year warranty than think about cartridge pricing every year.
Who should look elsewhere
- Shoppers with a tight opening budget, who will find entry points below €127.49 elsewhere on the site.
- Renters and anyone without a plumbing slot, since Cloud RO needs installation while the IBBL countertop units do not.
- Anyone outside US, or buyers who want to phone a company, since support here runs on email, chat and help centre only.
Country by country
| Country | Brondell | Cloud Water Filters |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Yes | No |
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Brondell
What does a Brondell water filter cost to start with?+
Brondell sells single purchase systems rather than plans, so the entry figure of $69.99 is the full outlay. Nothing further is due to set the unit up, and there is no renewal on the hardware itself. What recurs is the filter side, which is costed separately. Among the brands compared here, that entry price ranks 18 of 52.
How much do replacement filters cost each year?+
A replacement cartridge is $79.99, and filter spending over a year comes to $79.99. Among the water filters compared, that yearly figure ranks 13 of 46, which is the number to weigh before buying, since it keeps arriving long after the purchase is paid off.
Cloud Water Filters
How much does Cloud Water Filters cost at the start?+
The Cloud RO system has an entry price of $649, which covers the unit itself. That figure sits well above a typical site entry price of €127.49, so it is the first thing to weigh against a budget. Running costs are separate and are covered by the yearly filter bill.
What does the filter cost to keep running?+
Cartridges are priced at $200 each, and the annual filter cost for a Cloud RO household runs $200 to $250. Those are the figures to plan around rather than the entry price. Cartridges are bought as they are used up, so the yearly total tracks household consumption.